Refrigerating apparatus



July 19, 1932. v H, B, HULL l v Y 1,867,744

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I y Filed Deo. so,` L1927 z snets-snee'? 1gru/vento@ July 19, 1932. H. B. HULL 1,867,744

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gva/vento@Patented July- 19,- 1932 UNITED srATEs PATENT oEFl-,CE

HARRY IB. HULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, .ASSIG-NOR,l BY HESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOFRIGID- AIRE' CORPORATION, .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE i REFBIGEBATING APAnA'rUs Application led December 30, 1927. Serial No. 243,701. y

The present invention relates to improvements in refrigerators and moreparticularly the type of refrigerator havin a refrigerating elementlocated within a ca inet and connected with refrigerant circulatingapparatus.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improvedrefrigerating element which will require less space in the refrigeratorand thus provide more space for the storage of food without impairingthe freezing and cooling qualities of said element.

It is another object of the invention to provide a refrigerating elementin which means are provided for rapidly freezing substances placed inclose proximitv thereto and in which other means are provided forcooling the air circulating in the chamber in which the element islocated.

It is a further object to provide an improved arrangement for freezingsuch substancesby contact with a portion of the coil system of theelement and to insure the cooling and circulation of air within therefrigerator cabinet by passing the air through another portion of thecoil system ofsaid element.

One manner of carrying out these objects is to provide a freezing coiland a cooling coil so arranged that the freezing coil may be placedwithin a freezing chamber which is out of the direct path of thecirculating air and where the cooling coil is disposed in the directpath of the circulating air.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings Fig. l illustrates a front view of a re-l tion of theportion of the refrigerator containing the refrigerating element;

Fig. 3 shows a front view of the refrigeratin element in position inthey cabinet;

ig. 4 illustrates a top view of the element 5f itself; and

5 depicts a cut on the line 5-5 of Referring in detail to the drawings,the improved refrigerating element 'comprises a structure adapted forholding trays of substance to be frozen and for cooling and circulatingthe air within the cabinet. It comprises a portion providing a freezingzone and a portion providing a cooling zone. The freezing zone isindicated by in Fig. 2 and is adapted to contain trays 21 for holdingthe material to be congealed. These trays are disposed with their bottomin freezing relation to a freezing portion herein shown as a coil 22,which is wound back and forth` in a plane parallel to and substantiallytouching-the bottom of the trays. A metal plate 23 may be placed overthe coils and the trays placed thereon, suitable slides 24 being placedin the same plane with the member 28. A metal sleeve 25 serves toenclose the trays and the freezing portion or coil 22 to form thefreezing zone in which the coil 22 may be secured as by being solderedto the slides 24 above mentioned.

Situated below the freezing zone is the cooling zone whose function isto cool the air circulating in the cabinet. This portion of the elementis herein shown as comprising a coil of pipes having al plurality ofloops 27 and 28 arranged so as to extend transverse across the axis ofthe trays.

These loops are composed of two long pipe members of which one, 27,forms the bottom and the other, 28, the top of the loop, the members 27and 28 being connected by ends 29 and 30. In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention the top pipe 28 and the bottom pipe 27 are so arrangedthat they lie in a.

vertical plane in which metal fins 31 may be inserted. These finsareattached to the pipes as by soldering to insure good thermal contact.The ends 29 of the coil system may slant as shown in Fig. 2.

The sleeve causes air to be directedaway from the freezing coil 22 andover the cooling coil. The fins on the pipes 27 and 28 form passage waysadapted to directl the circulating air to the food storage compartmentof the refrigerator cabinet.

The entire device is enclosed in a metal casing 30 attached to a portionof the refrigerator cabinet as by screws 31a. This casing 30a isprovided with openings 32 to provide for the circulation of air into thecasing. The bottom of the casing is provided with an opening 33 toprovide for the circulation of cold airto the lower portion of thecabinet. The edges of this opening 33 are turned up as at 34 to providea flange so as to prevent condensed moisture from dripping down into thestorage portion of the cabinet, a shield 35 being providedY to cover theopening 33 without obstructing the circulation of air.

Referring to the refrigerant circulation system of the apparatus therefrigerating medium, for example sulphur dioxide is supplied through apipe`36 Fig. 2) from a compressor unit (not shown located preferably inthe upper compartment of the refrigerator cabinet.` The refrigeratingmedium.

passes through a portion 37 of pipe 36 through a control device such asan expansion valve 38 which regulates, the quantity of refrigerantsupplied and thence through pipe 39 to the freezing coil 22 abovedescribed. This coil is disposed in freezing 'relation to' the trays 21and the refrigerating medium in expanding therein produces its freezingaction in the well-known manner and congeals the substance in the trays.After traversing the freezing coils 22 the refrigerating medium passesthrough the cooling coil (composed of pipe members 27, 28, 29 and 30)and thence by way of pipe 41 and its extension 42 to the suction end ofthe compressor. l

It is apparent therefore that the greatest refrigerating effect isproduced in the coil 22 which is adapted to freeze the material in thetrays 21 placed thereon or in close proximity thereto, while a lesserrefrigerating effect is produced by the cooling coil (composed of pipemembers 27, 29 and 30) which serves to cool the storage com artment ofthe cabinet. While in the pre erred embodiment of the invention thedifference in the refrigerating elect of the two zones may be effectedby connecting the two coils in series or by forming the two coils from asingle continuous conduit, Ait is understood that any suitable means maybe used for creating such a diierence.

A thermostat or the like 43 is placed within the casing 30 and serves tocontrolthe operation of the refrigeratin 'element in accordance 'withrpredetermine conditions within the cablnet, agplpe 44 leadingltherefrom to su1table compressor control mechanism not shown. Thethermostat may be secured in place by any sultable means such as straps45 or the like.

A drain pipe 46 is connected to the bottom of the casing30 and serves toconduct away water resulting from condensation or defrosting. A coverplate 47 removably held A in place by screws 48 may be placed'on thefront of the refrigerating element.

The improved element may be mounted in a refrlgerator cabinet in thewell-known manner as by being suspended from a partition or support 49upon the other side of which the compressor (not shown) is mounted. Thestructure so produced may be removable and positioned as a unit withinthe cabinet and rest upon the walls 50 thereof.

It is apparent'that the refrigerating element described comprises a verycompact and shallow structure in which the freezing coils are wound in ahorizontal plane and arranged to exert their refrigerating effect uponVthe greatest available exposed surface ofthe trays placed upon them.The coil connected in series with the freezing coil or formed integraltherewith .from a single continuous conduit and provided with tinsserves to cool the lower compartment of the refrigerator cabinet bycausing the air therein to circulate as shown by the arrows in Fig. 3.

By virtue of this construction and arrangement a compact refrigeratingelement suitable particularly for household cabinets is produced inwhich the freezing zone is shieldl ed and hence protected from thecirculating air and in which the circulating air is .di-f

rected longitudinally over the loops and through the passageways formedby the fins on these loops downwardly into the food storage compartmentof the cabinet. In this manner substances can be congealed rapidly bythe freezing zone portion of the apparatus while during the period inwhich the compressor or refri erant circulating means is inactive theshe ding sleeve surrounding the.

posed below said rst coil for cooling the airy in saidcabinet, saidfirst coil comprising convolutions of pipe disposed in a horizontalplane and said cooling coil comprising loops of pipe disposed in avertical plane, -and shielding means for directing the circulation ofair over said cooling coil. l s

2. A refrigerating element lfor mechanically refrigerated cabinets,comprising a coil having runners for supporting substances placedthereon for congealing, and a coil connected in series therewith belowsaid first coil for cooling the air in said cabinet, said first coilcomprising convolutions of pipe disposed in a horizontal plane and saidcooling coil comprising loops of pipe disposed in a vertical plane.

3. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets,comprising a freezing coil adapted for congealing substances placedthereon, and a cooling coil connected in series therewith and disposedbelow said first coil for cooling the air in said cabinet, said freezingcoil 'comprising convolutions of pipe disposed in a horizontal plane andsaid cooling coil comprising loops disposed in a vertical plane,saidvertical coils being provided with fins.y

4. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigeratedcabinetsfcomprising a freezing coil' having means for supporting subnstances placed thereon for congealing, and a cooling coil connectedtherewith and having its loops disposed wholly belowsaid freezing coilfor cooling the air in said cabinet, and means below the cooling coilfor directing the air to be cooled horizontally over the cooling coil.

5. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets,comprising a freezing coil adapted for congealing substances placedthereon, and a cooling coil connected therewith and having its loopsdisposed wholly below said freezing coil for cooling the air in saidcabinet, and means for shielding the freezing coil from circulating airand for directing the air horizontally over the kcooling coil, saidmeans including a shield below the cooling coil.

6. In a mechanically refrigerated cabinet, in combination, a top wall ofsaid cabinet, a refrigerating element including a freezing portionspaced from said top wall, means cooperating with said top wall forproviding a freezing chamber containing the freezing portion, and acooling portion outside of said chamber for cooling the air circulatingin said cabinet, and means for directing the circulation of air oversaid cooling portion.

7. In a mechanically refrigerated cabinet in combination, a top wall ofsaid cabinet, a refrigerating element including a freezing portionspaced from said top wall, means cooperating with said top wall forproviding a freezing chamber containing the freezing portion, and acooling portion-outside of said chamber for cooling the air circulatingin said cabinetsaid cooling portion being disposed below said freezinchamber, and means for directing the circulation of air over saidcooling ortion.

8. In a mechamcally refrigerated cabinet in combination, a top wall ofsaid cabinet, a refrigerating element including a freezing portionspaced from said top wall, means cooperating with said top wall forproviding a freezing chamber containing the freezing portion, and acooling portion outside of said chamber for cooling the air circulatingin said cabinet, said cooling portion being disposed below said freezingchamber and having` baille means adjacent thereto provided withA anopening for ingress of circulating air and cooperating with the wall ofthe freezing chamber for directing air over said cooling portion.

9. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets,comprising a freezing portion adapted for congealing substances placedthereon, and a cooling coll for cooling circulating air and having theloops thereof extending vertically and disposed wholly below thefreezing portion,eand means for shielding the freezing -portion fromcirculating air, said means also forming one part of another means fordirecting circulating air over said cooling coil.

10. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets,comprising a freezing portion adapted for congealing substances placedthereon, and a cooling coil for ,cooling circulating air and having theloops thereof extending vertically andy disposed wholly below thefreezing portion, and means for shielding the freezing portion fromcirculating air.

1l. A refrigerator comprising in combination, a cabinet, a shield withinthe cabinet to close proximity to an outer wall thereof, a refrigeratingelement including a portion providing a freezing zone between the shieldand said wall, and including a portion providing an air cooling zone onthe opposite side of said shield, and means for directing thecirculation of air through the cooling zone.

12. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets,comprising a single continuous conduit formed to provide a freezingportion adapted for congealing substances placed thereon, saidcontinuous conduit also being formed to provide a cooling coil forcooling circulating air and having the loops thereof vextendingvertically and disposed wholly below the freezing portion, and means forshielding the freezing portion from circulating air. -v

13. A refrigerating element for mechanically refrigerated cabinets,comprising a single continuous conduit formed to provide a freezingportion adapted for congealing subl stances placed thereon, saidcontinuous conduit also being formed to provide to cooling oil for coolncirculating air and having the loops thereo extending vertically anddisposed wholly below t e freezing portion, and means for shielding thefreezing portion from circulating air, sald means also forming one partof another means for directing circulating air over said cooling coil.

In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature.

HARRY B. HULL.

